There are some people in life that just all out inspire you to do great things with the time you have on earth. They don't tell you to do great things, they lead by example.

Joe is one of those humans. Joe is a high achieving senior from Troy Athens High School whose accomplishments astound and exhaust me just from reading them! He is an eagle scout, a youth group teen council member, captain of his varsity water polo team and hardcore rugby player! All this while maintaining his grades and a part time job! Phew!

For Joe's senior photos, we headed to downtown Rochester. The day was perfect! And Joe? He was a complete natural in front of the camera, whether it be proudly sporting his hard earned scout patches or a fancy bow tie. His friendly smile and welcoming personality made the shoot a complete dream for me!

Joe, there's no doubt you will do great things with that big, courageous, confident heart of yours. I can't wait to see where it takes you next!

You know what is really exciting about May? I get to celebrate this beautiful woman twice! And for the never-ending good my mom has done, I could celebrate her every day and I feel like it wouldn't be enough!

Cheers to you mom,for working multiple jobs since the age of 13 to support the family you grew up with to the family you made today.

Cheers to you mom,for being brave enough to leave your 3 young children in the Philippines for a year to start your work as a nurse in the U.S.

Cheers to you mom,for giving above and beyond care to your patients in the suburbs of Detroit. I still remember those nights where the kitchen table was filled with bountiful trays of fruit to hand out to your patients. Or your multiple runs to JoAnn Fabrics, eagerly excited to make blankets for them as gifts. You literally warmed up the city, one home at a time.

Cheers to you mom, for leaving such a positive impression on everyone you meet. I can't leave a hospital or clinic you've worked at without getting an, "Are you Zena's (they can't ever get your name right) daughter? She's amazing! I love her."

Cheers to you mom, for showing me how hope can be found in the most dreadful of times. And how God is at the center of everything that is good.

The mini session comes with a 15-20 minute session with April Mae June Photography and watermarked social media images on an online gallery. Location of mini session is to be determined.

To enter, you must do the following:1. Fill out this questionnaire 2. Tag another qualifying junior who is not a part of your group on the image I posted3. Have your parent/guardian sign a model release form

Spaces are SUPER limited! Times and spots are at a first come, first serve basis!

Get your glam on! ​xo-April

]]>Wed, 13 Jan 2016 01:43:56 GMThttp://www.aprilmaejunephotography.com/blog/bff-mini-session-contest-metro-detroit-high-school-senior-photographyDo you know what lasts just as long as a true friendship? Photographs! I'm welcoming in 2016 with a BFF Mini Session Photo contest on Instagram! ​The winner receives a free mini bff photo shoot with April Mae June Photography!

​Enter to win by 9pm, JANUARY 19TH1. Follow me on Instagram2. post a pic of you and your best friend with a favorite memory you two share3. Tag me at @aprilmaejunephotos4. Use hashtag #amjbffs​SELECTIONThe top 3 images with the most likes will be posted on my Instagram feed the night of Tuesday, January 19th. You will have 24 hours to campaign for votes for you and your best friend. The image with the most likes on Wednesday, January 20th at 9pm EST will be our winner!

WINNERS will receive the following:- Makeup for you and your BFF***<-- Just added!!!- 30 minutes of photo shoot fun with your bestie that will take place in April 2016-10 watermarked social media images- 1 5x7 print (1 for each friend)

​Rules- Only 1 friend per entry and only 1 entry per person-You must be a current high schooler residing in Metro Detroit - I must be tagged (@aprilmaejunephotos) and with the hashtag #amjbffs - Parents must sign a portrait model release form- 1 parent must attend the photo shoot- Keep it classy! :)

You know what's so amazing about having a best friend? When you can be genuinely be yourself around them and they still stick around! The older I get, the more I realize how important and priceless those people are.

Allison and Michelle were lucky enough to find that in each other at Stevenson High School. They both had a passion for stage and the bag of craziness that came with it. We met up at a park near the Edgar E. Ice Arena to capture their friendship, styling it up with fur, flannel and floppy hats. It was a total blast!

Oh, Michelle. From the beginning, her quiet confidence and your sweet-natured presence had me feeling so welcome. I enjoyed every minute of capturing her beauty!

Slay, Allison, slay! That red hair. Those smizing eyes. Allison was a total natural in front of the camera. Take that fearlessness and run, girl! You'll go far, I promise.

Michelle's fav memory with her bff- "Throwback to the Thespian Society Christmas party. We were doing a white elephant gift exchange and someone brought a Jurassic World chia pet. Allison, being the Jurassic Park aficionado she is, was dead set on getting this gift. When she finally did, she opened the box only to find a Spiderman chia pet instead. The box was still shrink wrapped and everything. The packaging was just wrong. Allison was practically in tears from laughter though."

Allison's fav memory with her bff- "she came over and we played my multi-player James Bond video game!"

]]>Wed, 06 Jan 2016 00:28:51 GMThttp://www.aprilmaejunephotography.com/blog/reflectionsAnd just like that, 2015 is gone. The start of a new year, while exciting, stresses me out a little. All these questions of doubt start popping up from the corners of my mind. Did I cross enough off my list? Did I have enough fun?.. Or maybe I went a little overboard on it... Did I spend too much money? Did I not save enough? I'm turning how old?!?!

A recent article that my cousin posted on her blog, Steps in Seoul, had me realizing that I was looking at it backwards.

Photo Credit: Brandon Rais Photography

I decided to leave my sea of doubtfulness, stop with the resolutions for a second, and just be grateful. Here's a list of a few things that made me proud in 2015:

1. My friends and family won't believe me, I did the majority of the cooking for Jake and I this year. And he did not get sick once! ;) He's still the best cook, but I'm getting better at not burning things.

2. I successfully shot 20 photo shoots this year. I loved every minute of it!

3. Jake and I completed a 21 day cleanse. No caffeine, sugar, flour and nuts for 21 days and I lived to tell the tale.

​4. We grew our family with cats!! They are still alive and well. I can't say the same for our garden though...

5. It's amazing to see my little business grow so much in a short year! All the sweat, tears and heart that comes with dream chasing has brought out the best in me.

Happy New Year!

-April​ ​

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]]>Thu, 10 Dec 2015 02:16:19 GMThttp://www.aprilmaejunephotography.com/blog/downtown-milford-mi-family-photos-metro-detroit-photographyThe chilly November wind did not stop this gorgeous family from taking advantage of the warm sun! When the sun is out in November, every Michigander is out!

We met up in downtown Milford and started in Central Park. Winter was in the air, but the photos didn't show it! They had each other and that was all the warm these three needed!

This handsome dude stole the show quite early! And with his ambitious and adventurous personality, he stole a little of my heart too.

Loved beyond measure!

He's stuck with those two forever!

​Yup, he's got it made!

Happy Wednesday!​-​April

]]>Thu, 05 Nov 2015 23:08:47 GMThttp://www.aprilmaejunephotography.com/blog/november-05th-2015There's a new chiropractor in town! And I'm not ashamed to say that it's my wonderful huzzzband. :)

There's so many amazing things I could say about Jake's passion and dedication to his patients and the chiropractic calling. I feel like I would never do it justice, so visit his website at drkarlchiropractic.com.

For his head shot session we went to downtown Farmington, just a few miles away from our home in Livonia. With his snazy charcoal suit, green and blue shirt and debonair smile, he totally rocked it!

There was time when I dreamed by myself. I dreamed of exploring exotic, far away places, running the perfect race and eating the best meal that would make me forever full. While my bucket-list was long, it was written with a lot of self doubt and fear. And then we started dreaming together. And the dreams got bigger and more exciting! New dreams were added that I never thought I would ever want to experience- until I saw you in them. Your gentle nudges and encouraging words continue to turn all my mountains of doubt and fear into mole hills. Thank you for reminding me everyday that I am more than enough.

Happy anniversary darling husband!

Love,April

]]>Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:29:38 GMThttp://www.aprilmaejunephotography.com/blog/bavarian-inn-lodge-frankenmuth-mi-ken-and-kelley-metro-detroit-wedding-photographyMarch is always a dreary month in Michigan. The rain would come and go and clouds seemed unceasingly endless. Ken vowed to ease the dreariness by putting a beautiful memory right in the middle of the gray. And so a beautiful memory was created when he got down on one knee, asking his friend of many years to marry him!

There were no gray clouds on their wedding day. In fact it was the complete opposite! The Bavarian Inn at Frankenmuth, MI and the bright blue skies were the perfect backdrop for Ken and Kelley's wedding.

Ken an Kelley- Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your beautiful memory! You welcomed me right from the start and your family didn't hesitate to do the same. Your love story is one for the books!

Love, April

Kelly had a sweet surprise for her daughter!

<3 I love you to the moon and back <3

Kelly's beauty was without a doubt- timeless.

Ken was full of gitters that morning! Lucky for him, he had his super soon-to-be family to give him a hand.

Family!

I adore this photo! I think it captures their relationship perfectly!

Cheers to the creative team who did an amazing job with Ken and Kelley's beautiful day!